Did a Med cruise in Oct. 2005, RCI booked us from Newark to Barcelona with a layover in Frankfurt on Lufthansa. Nice airline! On the way home was a different story. There was a fishermans strike in Spain on the day we pull into port to go home so all the ports were blockaded by boats. Didn't get to port until 8 hrs later. RCI had to rebook all flights for people who booked with them. What an experience! They flew us home from Barcelona direct to JFK. But all other people who did not book with RCI had to find their own way home! Always book with the cruise line. Who cares about saving a little money by doing it yourself, save yourself the hassle.